Thank you for those very useful comments. How do the four development partner countries fit into that strategy, given that the priority in that respect might be climate support, particularly post-COP26, and support for civic groups, which was an issue that was raised by the groups from Malawi?

I want to follow up the question that Maurice Golden asked earlier about interparliamentary work and transparency. Dr Marks, you commented on the need for greater transparency and accountability in interparliamentary relations. What should the Scottish Parliament’s priorities be in developing those relations? Federal exemplars were mentioned earlier, and soft power comes up all the time, but I am thinking of common interests post-COP and particularly the need for our committee to understand where the EU is going and the Scottish Government’s aspirations to keep pace with it. What is your advice about where the committee should start to make recommendations to our parliamentary colleagues?

Dr Marks, do you wish to comment on priorities and how we can have an effective strategic approach? In that respect, I am thinking not just of the European connection but of connection to the rest of the world. How do the four partner countries fit in there?

I was thinking about both those issues. An issue that came up in our scrutiny was the challenge for people to know what is coming next in Europe. We are no longer at the table there. A huge amount of EU legislation is being developed and we need a sense of where the EU is going so that it is not a surprise when issues finally go through the European Parliament. I was just thinking about how we do a bit of looking forward ourselves. Do any of the other witnesses have a comment to make on that?

That is a helpful answer.

I am very keen to follow up the written comments that we have received from lots of organisations about the Scottish Government’s international development strategy. This morning, the witnesses have picked up on the need for the Government to be more coherent and strategic. I am keen to get your views on what the priorities should be.

The EU is important economically and culturally, given our historical relations; it is also important to international trade. How do we prioritise across the range of issues that you have all mentioned, whether that be soft power, culture or our economic interests? There is also the challenge of acting on climate change, following the 26th United Nations climate change conference of the parties—COP26—and in relation to human rights, which Kirsty Hughes has just mentioned.

What more needs to be done by the Scottish Government to focus on the priorities, given the relatively limited resources in the overall budget? I will come to Kirsty Hughes first.

What work has the Scottish Government done to assess the viability of and the need for additional support for venues, given the pandemic’s impact on the number of people attending theatres and cultural venues, its impact on reduced incomes and the huge impact that it has had on reserves?

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. The citizens assembly asked for a right to affordable housing for young people. Will the Scottish Government agree to that ask? In Edinburgh, in the past decade, the private rents have rocketed. A 40 per cent increase for one-bedroom properties means that young people cannot afford to live on their own, and they cannot even afford to share a flat, given that four-bed flats in the private sector now cost around £1,900 a month to rent. Will the cabinet secretary talk about the affordable housing access issue and give us a timescale for Scottish Government action on private rents?

The citizens assembly makes excellent suggestions about young people, participation, apprenticeship pay and housing. How does the minister envisage the newly announced youth citizens assembly working with the Scottish Youth Parliament? The minister highlighted that apprenticeships are vital for young people. How will Scottish Government procurement and contracting powers be used to ensure that apprentices are paid a fair wage? Will the minister also answer Neil Bibby’s question about the Scottish Government’s planned date for introducing private rent controls?

I thank the minister for advance sight of her statement. I welcome her offer of cross-party work both in the chamber and through our cross-party groups. She is right to acknowledge the importance of practical support for our international development partner countries to come through and rebuild from the pandemic and to address the challenges of our climate emergency. However, I want to ask her about the follow-up work to the vaccine preparedness work and the support on oxygen supply, energy infrastructure and education.

To date, how many vaccine doses has Scotland donated to our partner countries—Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Pakistan? As she said, COP26 is still on our minds and we need to deliver climate justice. What is the Scottish Government’s detailed commitment to loss and damage investment? How much funding will be allocated? How and when will it be delivered and invested in the adaptation and mitigation measures that are now urgently needed in our partner countries?